Lagos CP Fatai Tijani Seeks Stronger Community Collaboration to Sustain Peace in Ikorodu

 Lagos CP Fatai Tijani Seeks Stronger Community Collaboration to Sustain Peace in Ikorodu

LAGOS — The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Fatai Tijani, has called for stronger collaboration between the police, traditional institutions and residents of Ikorodu to sustain the relative peace recorded in the area and improve the state’s security architecture.

Tijani made the call during a community stakeholders’ engagement held in Ikorodu, where he met with traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss security concerns and strategies for preventing crime.

The engagement was attended by the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi; the Obateru of Egbin, among other royal fathers and community stakeholders from Ikorodu and its environs.

The CP said the engagement was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for police commands to regularly interact with communities and stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen community policing.

According to him, policing is a collective responsibility and cannot be successfully undertaken by the police alone without the cooperation and timely support of residents.

Tijani said the command had recorded a significant improvement in the security situation in Ikorodu following interventions introduced after a surge in criminal activities several months ago.

He noted that the area had remained relatively peaceful for about four months, despite isolated incidents and minor security challenges.

The Commissioner urged residents, traditional rulers and community leaders to provide credible and timely information to the police, stressing that intelligence from members of the public remains critical to preventing crimes and apprehending criminals.

He also cautioned against the spread of fake news, urging residents to verify information before sharing it, particularly when such information concerns security incidents.

Speaking during the engagement, the Obateru of Egbin commended the Lagos State Police Command for the improvement in security across Ikorodu and adjoining communities over the past five to six months.

The traditional ruler praised Tijani and the various Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) operating in the area for their efforts in responding to security threats.

He recalled instances when reports of suspected kidnappers and armed robbers prompted immediate police action, including the combing of affected areas.

He said the response demonstrated that the police leadership was not merely making promises but was also following them up with concrete action.

The monarch, however, stressed that communities must reciprocate the efforts of the security agencies by providing accurate information about suspicious activities and persons.

“We are not magicians. We have to give them information,” he said, urging residents to make use of the communication channels provided by the police rather than relying on rumours and unverified reports.

He further called for sustained cooperation among the police, other security agencies, traditional institutions and residents, noting that security could only be effectively guaranteed through collective responsibility.

The stakeholders also expressed support for stronger community participation in the evolving conversation around state policing, particularly in the areas of recruitment and local intelligence.

The engagement underscored the importance of traditional institutions in identifying credible local recruits and mobilising residents to support security initiatives.

Tijani assured the stakeholders of the command’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property across Ikorodu and urged residents to remain vigilant while maintaining close communication with the police.

He said sustained partnership between law enforcement and the communities would help consolidate the security gains already recorded in the area.